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lzMPRQVEMENT lN EXPLQSWE QQEWPQUNDS.

Specificalion forming part of Letters Patent No. il fifid, dated January18, 1870.

all whom it may concern:

it known that I, CHARLES Fannnmcx itrrmmn Enunsr Drr'rmnn, ofCharlottenberg, in the Fingdom of Prussia, have invented a new anduseful Expl'g'jsive Agent, which 1 call dualin, and which is to be usedin stead of other explosive agents, such as powlier, gnucotton,ni'troglyccrine, dynamite, Sac.

Dualin is a yellowish-brown powder, resembling in appearance Virginia.smoking-tobacco. it will, if lighted in the open air, burn withoutexploding, but, if confined, it may be made to explode in the samenianner as common powder. It is not sensitive to concussion, will notdecompose by itself, nor cake or packtogether, may be readily filledinto cartridges, and it matters not whether the place where it is storedbe warm, or, cold, dry or damp.

Insulin from four to ten times the strength of common powder, and isstronger than dy-' namitc, an improvement on nitro-glycerine.

Some of the advantages claimed for dualin. over other explosive agentsare: First, it may be stored, transp rtcd, manipulated, and applied withless risk than common powder. $ec0ud, it may be used in cold weatherwithout firstrequiring thowarming'process which nitroglycerine anddynamite require, and whicln frequently become inexplosive at a lowtemperature. 'ihird, its explosion does not develop any noxious gases.Fourth, absolutely cheapor either nitro-glyccrino or dynamite, dualin isalso relatively cheaper than common powder, for, possessing four to tentimes the strength of the latter, its use will proportiom afely reducethe labor and cost of mining and blasting operations. Fifth, the efi'cctof a (Insxplosion is to tear and rend the material exposed to its actionless than to pulverize it, as is the case with nitroglycerine anddynamits when applied to mining and blasting op erations in coal androck. Sixth, dualin does not ntcssitate the application of a cap containing iulminate, but may be exploded by a i'use, Seventh, its on likecommon powder. tire want of sensitiveness to concussion renders dnalin asuitable material for the bursting charge oi shells.

The description of the process is as follows:

Dnclin consists of cellulose, nitrocellulose, intro-starch,nitro-mannitc, and intro-glycerine, mined in different combinations,depending on the degree of strength which it is desired the powdershould possess in adapting its use to various purposes. Cellulose isprepared by reducing wood of a soft texture-for instance, pine orpoplar-4o small grains resembling sawdust, and treating them withdiluted acids, and then boiling them in a solution of soda. After havingbeen thoroughly dried by a quick drying process, the cellulose is mixedwith- First, niter and nitro-glyceriue; or,

Second, being first changed into nitro-cellulose by being treated withnitric acid (48 B.) and sulphuric acid, (66 B.,) it is then mixed withnitro-glyceriue.

Third. The dried cellulose is mixed with anhydrous glyceriuc until themass becomes of the consistency of thick broth. This is graduallytreated to a bath composed of a mixture of sulphuric acid (669 B.) andnitric acid (48 B.) of eight to ten times its quantity, during whichprocess the greatest care must be taken to stir the heated mixture andcool it. The stirring is continued for at least half an hour, afterwhich the mixture is placed in a watenbath of ten times its quantity.The acid-water being repeatedly drawn oil and replaced by pure water,the mixture is now placed in a bath of diluted soda-lye. In this it isstirred from one to two hours, again washed in pure water, and thenrendered anhydrous by means of hot water, heating and treating it withconcentrated sulphuric acid and chloride of calcium. After having beenrendered anhydrous, it is mixed with cellulose prepared by the processdescribed under 1, 2, or' l, until a dry and not very greasy powder isobtained. The dust is sifted out, and this, if packed into cartridges,is serviceable. The powder remaining possesses the advantages aboveenumerated.

Fourth. he cellulose is charred, finely pulverized, boiled inconcentrated inter-lye, and, after soda has been added, is rapidlydried, and mixed with nitro-glycerinc or dualin prepared by process No.l, 2, or 3. I

Fifth. The process ol'prcparing miter-starch (another ingredient ofdualin) is also new. It will prevent the formation of lumps afterthcfstarch has been. subjected to the acids, and also render the driedpreparation .less sensitive to dampness.

(1. Starch is thoroughly dried until it assumes a yellowislrbrown color.It is then finely pulverized, and mixed with anhydrous glyeerine. Themass'is 'srowly'placed in a mixture of nitric acid (48 B.) and sulphuricacid (66 B.) of ten times its quantity, during which process thegreatest; cere must again be taken to stir the mixture and cool it. Thestirring is continued for halt'en hour', when the mix-.

until a dry and powder is obtained.

b. After the starch has been dried it is mixed with pulverizedcellulose, or with the dueliu dust prepared by process N0. 3. This massis then placed in e mixture of nitric acid (48 I3.) and sulphuric acid,(66 B.,) and for the rest treated as described by process No. 5.

Sixth. In an entirely analogous manner, meuuite is mixed with anhydrous,g'lyceriue, and compounded with theother ingredients of duelinv I donot claim uitro-glyceriue or mixtures of nitro-glycerine with otherexplosive or nonexplosive materials, as such have been made; but they donot possess the propertietof my compound.

I claim as my iuvention-- l. The process of manufacture or preparationof a compound which I denominete dip elin, of the ingredients, in. theproportions,

nd for the purposes set forth.

' 2. The new compound herein called dualin, made by the process setforth, orjts chetcicalequiveleut,

CARL DITTMAR.

herein Witnesses: 1

Cues. H. Poem, Gusmv CETEBTZ,.

ERMANN Jo son.

described,

